Saturday May 25, 2013: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Here's your chance to learn how scientists provide explanations about the world and universe! The Ann Arbor Science & Skeptics present their second annual Scientists Fair at AADL.

Scientists from the University of Michigan and other local institutions will explain the scientific concepts of the Big Bang theory, particle physics, climate change, nuclear power, and exploring Mars.

This event will acquaint you with scientific knowledge and how that knowledge is obtained. The researchers can answer your questions and tell you about their research!

This event is for adults and teens (grade 9 and up).

Tuesday May 28, 2013: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Join the Purple Rose Theatre Company for a concert reading of "Miles & Ellie" by Don Zolidis. This new comedy, written by the author of last season's "White Buffalo," will have its world premiere production at the Purple Rose this summer.

Miles and Ellie are two American teenagers in love when a youthful misunderstanding breaks them apart. Flash forward 20 years and a divorced and disenchanted Ellie has come home to lick her wounds. There isn't much time to mope, however, when she learns that Miles is still in town and still carrying a torch for her. Is it possible to get a second chance at your first love? This charming and funny world premiere by Don Zolidis (which does contain some adult language and content)will make you wonder "what if?"

Purple Rose Artistic Director Guy Sanville will lead an audience talk-back session after the reading. Come see the cast in action, then stay and offer your opinions. Purple Rose wants to know what YOU have to say about this new play!

Sunday June 2, 2013: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm -- Taste of Ann Arbor Library Booth
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Visit the library booth at Taste of Ann Arbor as the Ann Arbor District Library spreads the word about the Summer Program! There will be hoolahoops, sidewalk art and festive summer play!

This event is for all ages.

Tuesday June 4, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Celebrate 30 years of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival when the Ann Arbor District Library launches the Online Summer Festival Archive (available on the aadl.org website after this event - at aasf.aadl.org).

In addition to a demonstration of the online archive, this event will include reflections on the 30th Anniversary by current and past Summer Festival staff and board members including: Robb Woulfe, Executive & Artistic Director; Amy Nesbitt, Associate Director & General Manager; Susan Pollay and Jamie Mistry. Light refreshments will also be served.

Delve into Ann Arbor's fascinating history as AADL unveils this new digital local history archive which will include digitized programs from the Festival's history, as well as posters, postcards and brochures. It will also include over 1000 photographs from the Festival's history; as well as articles from the Ann Arbor News.

Thursday June 6, 2013: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" is a classic films of the horror genre. Do you dare to discover the hidden meaning behind Kubrick's masterpiece?

Join us for an exclusive Ann Arbor screening of the critically acclaimed documentary "Room 237" which analyzes hidden symbols and messages in the Kubrick classic. The film will be introduced by Shining expert Geoffrey Cocks, who is also prominently featured in "Room 237."

Released in March 2013 to rave reviews, LA filmmaker Rodney Ascher's "Room 237," features Shining film fans and experts who believe they have decoded hidden symbols and messages buried in "The Shining" and have developed far-reaching meanings for the horror classic. Carefully examining "The Shining" inside out, and forwards and backwards, the documentary is equal parts captivating, provocative and pure pleasure. The film was also featured at the Sundance, Cannes and Toronto film festivals.

Albion College Professor of History and Shining Expert Geoffrey Cocks (who is featured in the film discussing its relationship to the Holocaust) will introduce "Room 237" and answer audience questions after the screening. He is the author of "The Wolf at the Door: Stanley Kubrick, History, and the Holocaust," "Depth of Field: Stanley Kubrick, Film, and the Uses of History," as well as several other publications.

Enjoy an evening of film and enlightening discussion - and find out more about the secrets hidden deep in "The Shining!"

Sunday June 9, 2013: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Drop in and get connected with other LEGO-minded people! All LEGOs will be provided, so you can make things and make friends!

If desired, your LEGO creation will be photographed for AADL's LEGO Look Book before it's time to clean up. Get some early ideas for the AADL annual LEGO Contest on August 8!

This event is for grades K - 5, with an adult.

Tuesday June 11, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Whether you call them franks, wieners, or red hots, hot dogs are as American as apple pie, but how did these little links become icons of American culture?

Join hot dog scholar Bruce Kraig and photographer Patty Carroll for a fascinating and colorful look at the history, people, decor, and venues that make up hot dog culture and what it says about our country! Their 2012 book "Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture In America" will be on sale and the event includes a book signing as well as hot dog tastings from a local Ann Arbor venue!

In this fascinating book, world-renowned hot dog scholar Bruce Kraig investigates the history, people, decor, and venues that make up hot dog culture and what it says about our country. These humble sausages cross ethnic and regional boundaries and have provided the means for plucky entrepreneurs to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Hot dogs, and the ways we enjoy them, are part of the American dream.

Bruce Kraig has loved hot dogs since his first bite at Nathan's when he was 5 years old. Since then he has studied hot dogs, and for over 25 years, has been the leading authority on the culture of Hot Dogs. As the authority on the culture, lore and history of hot dogs, he has appeared often in national media, including documentaries by the History Channel and the Discovery Channel. As the leading expert on hot dogs, Kraig has appeared on ABC Nightline, Martha Stewart Radio, ABC National News and NPR's Talk of the Nation, and in the spring of 2009, CBS News, WGN and NBC News Chicago, as well as BBC News and Radio New Zealand-all about hot dogs.

Patty Carroll, currently Adjunct Full Professor of Photography at the School of The Art Institute Of Chicago and at Columbia College Chicago, is a distinguished photographic artist with a deep interest in American popular culture. She has published and exhibited widely on American cultural topics including Elvis Impersonators, American suburban lawns, and resorts at night, as well as hot dog stands. Her books include: "Living The Life: The World Of Elvis Tribute Artists," "Culture Is Everywhere" and her hot dog stand photos are included in "Changing Chicago."

Thursday June 13, 2013: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Join us at LIVE to test your knowledge of all things local!

From old theaters and record shops to old time-y famous figures, we'll be pulling out weird and wonderful bits of Ann Arbor's history from our Old News archives.

Show up with a team of 4-5 players, or arrive solo, ready to band together with other townies ready to test their knowledge. There will be crazy prizes, lots of fun, excellent company and the chance to learn more about A2!

Sunday June 16, 2013: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Meet Ice Cream Vendors in person on the afternoon of their Top Of The Park Kids Rock performance.

Ice Cream Vendors songs are all written and composed with a collaborative effort. For this workshop, ICV's Jon Kostal and Greg Barnett let you in on their unique approach to songwriting. Learn about song inspiration based on unusual everyday sources.

The workshop will also feature an interactive demonstration. You could be the inspiration for the next ICV hit!

Sunday June 16, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Top of the Park
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Kids Rock@Top Concerts return!! Kick off the 2013 AADL Summer Game at this family-friendly concert with Ice Cream Vendors on the Rackham stage!

Chicago's unique musical institution-Ice Cream Vendors-are not just a musical duo but a mysterious life force! Sign up for the AADL Summer Game at the concert, and be one of the leaders for great summer game prizes. Ice Cream Vendors are made up of longtime pals Jon Kostal and Greg Barnett, plus seven other great players. Songs about beta data, bacon men, and sharing eyeglasses will have you smiling and geeking out right alongside them!

This event is the first in the Kids Rock Series@TOP - a Sunday series of concerts at Top of the Park, presented by AADL and the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.

Saturday June 22, 2013: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Lobby

AADL hosts the 2013 Kids Read Comics Celebration on Saturday June 22 & Sunday June 23, bringing more than forty cartoonists and writers to the Downtown Library for the entire weekend. This is the fifth annual KRCC, an event that promotes comics as a part of lifelong reading and as a means of creative expression for kids and teens.

Among the guests are Ben Hatke of "Zita the Spacegirl;" Raina Telgemeier, creator of the award-winning "Smile and Drama;" Dave Roman of "Jax Epoch And The Quicken Forbidden" and "Astronaut Academy;" and Rafael Rosado, who has been a writer, director, producer and storyboard artist for shows as diverse as Animaniacs, Men In Black The Animated Series, Curious George, and The Venture Brothers. His all-ages graphic novel, "Giants Beware!" was published by First Second Books earlier this year.

Stressing active engagement over passive consumption, the weekend will include hands-on workshops covering such topics as learning to draw funny people from wacky shapes, writing and drawing minicomics, and much more. Artists will demonstrate how they do what they do while answering audience questions, and the always popular Quick Draw competitions will pit artists head to head as they improvise drawings based on suggestions from spectators. Other programs will be geared to educators and librarians to help them learn how to use comics most effectively in their settings.

At tables in Artists' Alley, kids, teens and parents will have a chance to talk one-on-one with comics creators -- who have been known to toss off free sketches along with offering their comics and books for sale. Free giveaways will also include comic books donated by publishers big and small, including DC Comics, Archie Comics, Top Shelf Productions and Oni Press.

The Kids Reads Comics Celebration offers something for just about everyone, using the magic of comics to open up the imaginations of kids of all ages. And all activities, as well as every artist's and writer's table in Artists' Alley, will offer a code as part of AADL's Summer Game.

Kids Reads Comics is co-sponsored by the Ann Arbor Book Festival. Information about Kids Read Comics guests and programming is available at www.kidsreadcomics.org.

This event is for grade 4 - adult.

Sunday June 23, 2013: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Lobby

AADL hosts the 2013 Kids Read Comics Celebration on Saturday June 22 & Sunday June 23, bringing more than forty cartoonists and writers to the Downtown Library for the entire weekend. This is the fifth annual KRCC, an event that promotes comics as a part of lifelong reading and as a means of creative expression for kids and teens.

Among the guests are Ben Hatke of "Zita the Spacegirl;" Raina Telgemeier, creator of the award-winning "Smile and Drama;" Dave Roman of "Jax Epoch And The Quicken Forbidden" and "Astronaut Academy;" and Rafael Rosado, who has been a writer, director, producer and storyboard artist for shows as diverse as Animaniacs, Men In Black The Animated Series, Curious George, and The Venture Brothers. His all-ages graphic novel, "Giants Beware!" was published by First Second Books earlier this year.

Stressing active engagement over passive consumption, the weekend will include hands-on workshops covering such topics as learning to draw funny people from wacky shapes, writing and drawing minicomics, and much more. Artists will demonstrate how they do what they do while answering audience questions, and the always popular Quick Draw competitions will pit artists head to head as they improvise drawings based on suggestions from spectators. Other programs will be geared to educators and librarians to help them learn how to use comics most effectively in their settings.

At tables in Artists' Alley, kids, teens and parents will have a chance to talk one-on-one with comics creators -- who have been known to toss off free sketches along with offering their comics and books for sale. Free giveaways will also include comic books donated by publishers big and small, including DC Comics, Archie Comics, Top Shelf Productions and Oni Press.

The Kids Reads Comics Celebration offers something for just about everyone, using the magic of comics to open up the imaginations of kids of all ages. And all activities, as well as every artist's and writer's table in Artists' Alley, will offer a code as part of AADL's Summer Game.

Kids Reads Comics is co-sponsored by the Ann Arbor Book Festival. Information about Kids Read Comics guests and programming is available at www.kidsreadcomics.org.

This event is for grade 4 - adult.

Sunday June 23, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Top of the Park
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Kids Rock@Top Concerts continue!! Do not miss this family-friendly concert with The Candy Band on the Rackham stage!

The Candy Band is a punk rock band designed specifically to appeal to children. It is composed of four Detroit area moms who were tired of what they deemed wimpy music for kids. They took a stand, and in 2003 formed The Candy Band, playing punk covers of nursery rhymes, movie themes and other children's favorites, along with original tunes. With influences like the Ramones and Iggy Pop, they quickly attracted attention from the Wall Street Journal, New York Post, The Times, Blender Magazine, XM Radio, Woman's Day, USA Today, People Magazine, the CBS Early Show, and the NBC Today Show. Their first album, Candy Band, was released in 2003. It was followed by More Candy in 2004, Lollipunk in 2005, Calling All Kids in 2007, and High Five in 2010.

So, fill up your sippy cup, fasten your seatbelts and put your fists in the air - Candy Band wants to rock your world!

This event is the second in the Kids Rock Series@TOP - a Sunday series of concerts at Top of the Park, presented by AADL and the Summer Festival.

Monday June 24, 2013: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

Design and fly spacecraft that are capable of trans-continental or even interplanetary travel!

Kerbal Space Program is a multi-genre game where players create their own space program. It's a Slapdash Spaceflight Sandbox, and you're in control of your nation's space program.

Participation in "Race to Space" events includes codes for Summer Game space badges and requires your attendance for the entire scheduled time.

This event is for teens (grades 6-12).

Monday June 24, 2013: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

This session ratchets up the difficulty level with the goal of leaving Kerbal's orbit and landing on the Mun!

Kerbal Space Program is a multi-genre game where the players create their own space program. Participation in "Race to Space" events includes codes for Summer Game space badges and requires your attendance for the entire scheduled time.

This event is for teens (grades 6-12).

Tuesday June 25, 2013: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Explore the fundamentals of logic, programming and robotics design with LEGO NXT! You will build, test, and tweak your robot, then COMPETE.

Participation in "Race to Space" events includes codes for Summer Game space badges and requires your attendance for the entire scheduled time.

This event is for teens (grades 6-12).

Friday June 28, 2013: 9:45 pm to 11:45 pm -- Top of the Park
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Become a Superhero!

Created by Spanish arts collective Wildbytes, Superhero is an interactive projection mapping experience in which participants are transformed into superheroes using Kinect cameras and customized software.

A digital art exhibition at Top of the Park over multiple nights (Friday June 28 - Sunday, June 30 - 9:45 - 11:45 pm), festival-goers will be able to fly over the historic facade of the Burton Memorial Tower while enjoying a number of super powers, which they can control with natural gestures. These powers included throwing light balls, becoming gigantic or tiny, and, of course, flying.

Wildbytes is an art and technology studio based in Madrid and New York. Their work is focused on creating engaging, interactive experiences that are often displayed as large-scale projections in public events. Producing new technology in the process, the main goal of Wildbytes' projects is to create immersive experiences that trigger emotion through participation. Wildbytes' interdisciplinary work has been exhibited in institutions around the world including Ars Electronica (Austria), FILE (International Festival of Electronic Language).

This event is for all ages.

Saturday June 29, 2013: 9:45 pm to 11:45 pm -- Top of the Park
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Become a Superhero!

Created by Spanish arts collective Wildbytes, Superhero is an interactive projection mapping experience in which participants are transformed into superheroes using Kinect cameras and customized software.

A digital art exhibition at Top of the Park over multiple nights (Friday June 28 - Sunday, June 30 - 9:45 - 11:45 pm), festival-goers will be able to fly over the historic facade of the Burton Memorial Tower while enjoying a number of super powers, which they can control with natural gestures. These powers included throwing light balls, becoming gigantic or tiny, and, of course, flying.

Wildbytes is an art and technology studio based in Madrid and New York. Their work is focused on creating engaging, interactive experiences that are often displayed as large-scale projections in public events. Producing new technology in the process, the main goal of Wildbytes' projects is to create immersive experiences that trigger emotion through participation. Wildbytes' interdisciplinary work has been exhibited in institutions around the world including Ars Electronica (Austria), FILE (International Festival of Electronic Language).

This event is for all ages.

Sunday June 30, 2013: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Meet The Not-Its! in person on the afternoon of their Top Of The Park Kids Rock performance.

This hands-on music creation workshop will give music lovers and fans a chance to learn how The Not-Its! combine crunchy guitars with smooth, four-part harmonies, to create pop gems.

Their high-energy stage performances are guaranteed to get audiences on their feet and jumping around with delight. Their debut album, We Are The Not-Its!, took the kindie rock scene by storm, receiving a Fids & Family Music Award for one of the best family music albums of 2009. It's clear they are on a mission to make kids dance, with up-tempo, power-pop hits families love.

Meet them in person as they teach you how they create their fantastic sounds. This event is for grades K - 5.

Sunday June 30, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Top of the Park
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Kids Rock@Top Concerts continue!! Do not miss this final family-friendly concert in the series with The Not-Its! on the Rackham stage!

Seattle kindie rock band The Not-Its! took the children's music world by storm with their award-winning debut album, We Are The Not-Its! Featuring lead vocals by Sarah Shannon (of lauded '90s indie-pop band Velocity Girl), The Not-Its! combine crunchy guitars with smooth, four-part harmonies, all nestled within "fantastic danceable pop gems about gettin' fancy, birthday parties, bath time, and intergalactic play dates."

Their high-energy performance makes the ENTIRE family want to dance along and jump up and down. They have created a movement - a family connection that brings out the kid power in all of us.... The Not-Its! Nation!!

This event is presented by AADL and the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, and is also the last in the Kids Rock Series@TOP - a Sunday series of concerts at Top of the Park, presented by AADL and the Summer Festival.

This event is for all ages.